president obama standing his ground. >> we're going to have to say the rates on the top 2% go up and we're not going to be able to get a deal without it. >> he's been consistent on that but no one's talking right now, not a phone call or an e-mail and i'm not talking about just between the president and the speaker. nothing between their staffers, who are negotiating this deal yesterday. and john boehner is getting squeezed from both sides. now on the right he's taking heat over his propoesal that would raise $800 billion in revenue closing loopholes. on the left the white house won't talk to him until he agrees to raise rates. senate minority leader mitch mcconnell didn't support speaker boehner's plan. >> i have no particular observation other than i commend the house republican leadership for trying to move the process along, and getting to a point where hopefully we can have a real discussion. >> i want to bring in "time" magazine's assistant editor and "national journal"'s chris freitz. does this come down to john boehner and what he's willing to do? >> i think what we've been s